Royal Philips has collaborated with Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) to explore the use of its ultrasound technology and MIT physiological modeling as a less invasive way to measure intracranial pressure (ICP), an essential tool in managing patients with brain injuries.

Philips

Under the study, Philips will work with experts in the field of neurosurgery to test a core estimation algorithm that was developed by the Integrative Neuro-monitoring and Critical Care Informatics Group in MIT’s Institute for Medical Engineering and Science (IMES).

MIT electrical engineering and computer science assistant professor and study principal investigator said: "Our goal is to develop a noninvasive method of measuring ICP that could be used in treating a much wider range of conditions."

Philips will work with MIT to research a fully non-invasive and calibration-free approach to estimate ICP, allowing in better diagnosis and triage with patients suffering from a brain injury (football field, ambulance, battlefield, and emergency room).

Researchers will try to get the value of ICP without penetrating the skull, using Philips portable ultrasound technologies and monitoring technologies, as well as the MIT model-based estimation approach.

In addition, researchers intend to expand the use of the technology to non-traditional patients, including those with unexplained headaches, mild and moderate traumatic brain injury or even coma.

Recently, Philips opened its new Research headquarters for North America in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where it will carry out these types of research projects in collaboration with local academic and healthcare partners.

Philips Research North America chief science officer Dr Joseph Frassica said: "Today it is very difficult to gauge the level of head trauma someone has sustained at the scene of an incident, because there is no quick and effective way to gauge the pressure inside the skull."


Image: Philips mobile ultrasound technology to help researchers find a non-invasive way to measure intracranial pressure. Photo: courtesy of Business Wire.